Northfield Downtown Development Corporation

The recently completed 3rd Street and Highway 3 project, also known as the Horseshoe Parking Lot Screening, is a sign of bigger things to come. The proposed 5th and Water Street Reconstruction Project could be ten times as large.

Both projects are just more recent examples of the on-going Streetscape Plan, work financed by residuals generated by the Downtown TIF District. According to state law, money generated in the district must be spent in the district. The City worked with a variety of consultants and gathered input from local stakeholders in a year-long process to develop an overall plan for this substantial program.

Learn more about the 5th and Water Street Reconstruction Project and future Streetscape Plans at the upcoming Forum.

City of Northfield in co-operation with

The Northfield Downtown Development Corporation will hold a

Informational Workshop to discuss

the 5^th and Water Street Reconstruction Project on:

Tuesday November 6^th, 2007 from 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM during the

NDDC Meeting at the Archer House

As always, coffee and cookies will be served.

The first annual Fall Fest was a great success. We were very thankful for the picture perfect autumn afternoon.

There was quite a bit of hard work that went into the effort too. It sure was clear to me that Ally Beyer was in charge and deserves much credit. Nick Sinclair, Rob Schanilec, and Liz Carpentier played major roles too. Thanks, of course, to the City of Northfield for lending us the barricades and picnic tables and the Northfield Police Department for help with traffic control. The Summas, Vic and Kiffi, also get a nod of appreciation for allowing “the old Bagel Brothers space” to be turned into a temporary haunted house.

It has been mentioned to me, more than once, that in my haste to write up the post, I turned Tiny’s on the Square into Tony’s on the Sure. Let me make clear that I wasn’t suggesting that Tim Sellars was conducting horse racing in Grastvedt Lane. However, I’m sure that we all would have picked Lena to win.

Griff posted some Fall Fest Fotos on Locally Grown, as well as an opportunity to vote for your favorite scarecrow. Be sure to check them out if you missed the fun in Downtown Northfield.

The first in what is scheduled to be a series of wayfinding signs in Northfield has arrived. It was installed on 4th Street, just up the hill from Division Street, on the south side of the First National Bank building.

A little over four years ago, the NDDC’s Action Squad made a presentation to the City Council on recommendations for public investments that would stimulate economic vitality. One of the suggestions was wayfinding signage. Many of these ideas were incorporated into the city’s Streetscape Plan. As NDDC President Dan Bergeson stated at yesterday’s annual planning retreat, this type of work requires great patience.

This morning there was an ad hoc review and discussion of the new sign, in the alley officially known as Grastvedt Lane, between Councilor Jim Pokorney, NDDC Treasurer Dave Shumway and myself. We were thinking that this might not be the final sign but rather an experimental prototype. Jim suggested that there will be another one going up at the “horseshoe parking lot” at the corner of 3rd Street and Highway 3. Both signs are intended to stimulate feedback before the series is completed.

So check out the sign, or signs, and offer feedback. You can call Joel Walinski at the City of Northfield, catch Jim Pokorney behind Blue Monday, or comment on this website. All of us are interested and will continue to discuss the sign. I’ll admit that I’m pretty excited about it.

By the way, bike racks and benches are coming soon!

There’s much happenin’ in Downtown Northfield this weekend. In fact, there’s something for just about everyone goin’ on.

It starts off with the Northfield Historical Society’s “Cemetery Stories”, Friday the 26th. Join one of the tours under the full moon for actors portraying former Northfielders from their grave sites at the Northfield Cemetery on South Division Street (across from the high school). Tours are 6:00, 6:20, 6:40, 7:00 and 7:20 pm.

Then it’s the Northfield Harvest Stomp, 7:00 to 10:30 pm at the Northfield Armory, 519 Division Street in Downtown Northfield. Produced by Carleton College and Northfield Community Contra Dance Association, the event will move to the rhythm of Contratopia. All dancers from novices to experts are invited.

Saturday afternoon, October 27th, it’s the Fall Festival, featuring Hayrides, Pie-eating Contests, Pumpkin Decorating, a Haunted House, Caramel Apples, Hot Apple Cider, Tony’s on the Sure, Lena the Horse, Face Painting, Live Music, Scarecrow Contest, Camp Fires and S’mores. It’s 1 to 5 pm, Bridge Square in Downtown Northfield. See this PDF flyer for complete details.

Finally, on Sunday the 28th, the Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra will open its 28th season with a Reformation Day Concert. The concert will be held Sunday, October 28, 3:00 PM at the newly renovated First United Church of Christ (Congregational) in Northfield at 300 Union St.

This morning the NDDC’s E R Team met with representatives of Rice County to discuss the issue of rapidly rising real estate taxes. Pictured from left to right are County Administrator Gary Weiers, County Auditor Fran Windschitl, and County Commissioner Galen Malecha.

Commercial real estate taxes in Downtown Northfield have been increasing on average 30% per year for the past 7 years. These increases are threatening the economic viability of the downtown district.

The folks from the NDDC and Rice County reviewed the sources of the issue, efforts at the state level, important data and background material to assemble, and what we might be able to do together in order to protect the vitality of this powerful economic engine for the County. Perhaps most important, we also identified additional allies that we could enlist in this effort.

The folks from Rice County clearly understood the issue and showed great creativity in moving to address it. We thank them for driving up from “down south” and look forward to working with them further on this important matter.